(nee Hinton)
1918-2009
We bring you the sad news of the peaceful passing of Joy Alderson this past July 14th on Salt Spring Island. Due to an advanced state of osteoporosis, a cracked pelvis took Joy to the hospital where she unfortunately succumbed to a serious infection. She passed away in her sleep after two weeks of family and friends around her at the marvellous facility on Salt Spring. Joy is survived by her husband Eric, daughter Lucy and son Tim as well as nieces and nephews in the UK. She will be remembered as a great mother, the most loving person we know, for her generosity, her sense of humour, her horticultural exploits and her practical and elegant approach to life.
Born in Ireland where her father was posted as a military officer, Joy spent her early years in England. From about the age of nine through her early teens, she and her brother were raised in France. Along the way, Joy became an accomplished horsewoman. She followed in the footsteps of her mother Phyllis, the long time editor of Riding, the pre-eminent international magazine of the English Style.
In London during the war, Joy along with countless other young women her age, worked in the Intelligence Services breaking and handling enemy codes. After a couple of years of listless and restless times following the war, Joy embarked on the adventure of Canada. She lived for a time with friends of friends in Toronto before taking a position as Governess to a younger girl, in the employ of a well-to-do widower who had lost his wife due to illness. They lived in Toronto as well as on his farm north of the city where the horses were kept and where she could teach this young person how to ride.
It was at this farm that an English Army Officer answered an advertisement for Farm Manager. This man would become her husband of fifty-six years. After a time, these two would answer another ad to manage a farm and raise a family in nearby Aurora, Ontario. That position eventually turned into a business proposition that kept them in the area until retirement in 1986. That December, they moved lock, stock and barrel to above the Booth Inlet, near Ganges on Salt Spring Island, BC. The beauty, slower pace and mild, moderate weather of this lovely little corner of the world has made for a happy retirement. Joy had a long and interesting life but she will be missed. For anyone seeking more news, please write to aldersontimothy@gmail.com